The Defense Alliance of North Carolina (DANC) - Government Relations Virtual Forum  

 presented by the University of North Carolina System Office 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

N. Leo Daughtry, Chair Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, UNC Board of Governors

Leo Daughtry is a lawyer and businessman from Smithfield and former legislator in the NC General Assembly. He was appointed to the UNC Board of Governors (BOG) in 2017. He is a founding partner at the law firm Daughtry, Woodard, Lawrence, & Starling.  Daughtry represented Smithfield, Clayton, and northern Johnston counties for 20 years in the NC General Assembly. Mr. Daughtry served as a Captain and Judge Advocate General in the United States Air Force. He was named ‘Celebrity of the Year’ by Johnston County Schools, ‘Man of the Year’ by Boy Scouts of America, and ‘Man of the Year’ by Johnston County Chamber of Commerce.  Mr. Daughtry earned his bachelor’s and law degrees from Wake Forest University.

Kathie Sidner, Director Defense & Military Partnerships, The University of North Carolina System Office

Kathie is a member of the External Relations team at the University of North Carolina (UNC) System Office, linking UNC research with military applications. She identifies and connects UNC research capabilities, scientific talent, and related expertise with defense community applied research and technology needs.  She works closely with UNC campuses, the U.S. Army Research Office, U.S. Special Operations Forces and other military partners, as well as the defense industry, to help solve critical science and technology (S&T) challenges for military partners. Ms. Sidner coordinates activities of the UNC Defense Applications Group, a multidisciplinary group of UNC subject matter experts, including research programs, student projects and internships. She also works with faculty and staff at UNC campuses and the UNC System Office to increase Department of Defense sponsored research across the UNC System.  

Ms. Sidner earned her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Virginia and her M.S. in Chemical Engineering from North Carolina State University.  Prior to joining the UNC System, she worked in the U.S. Intelligence Community as a chemical/biological weapons and counterterrorism analyst, and supported two Army university affiliated research centers (UARCs) in nanotechnology and biotechnology while as a contractor at the Army Research Office. 

Siobhan Norris, Program Manager for Military & Veteran Education, The University of North Carolina System Office

Siobhan is the lead advocate for over 19,000 military-affiliated students across 16 universities. In this role, she develops and implements strategic approaches to support military-affiliated student enrollment, retention, and post-graduation success across the UNC system. Ms. Norris is an executive and leadership coach, as well as a national speaker and subject matter expert on military culture, veteran service organizations, and strategic partnerships.

Prior to working for the UNC System, Ms. Norris served as the Military Liaison for the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW). She is credited for facilitating numerous strategic partnerships for UNCW, leading the campus to be ranked by Military Times as #1 in the state of North Carolina for military-affiliated students in 2018. Her strategic partnerships include the National Military Family Association, the Association of the United States Army, the PsychArmor Institute, the North Carolina Defense Business Association, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes program. Under her guidance, UNCW became the first institution of higher learning to host a Military Spouse Professional Network chapter that supports employment opportunities for spouses on campus and in the community.

Ms. Norris is proud to be a member of a family that can date their military involvement back to the Civil War. She is the granddaughter of a decorated WW II Marine Corps veteran, the daughter of a Vietnam veteran, was a military spouse for 17 years, and is herself a veteran of the U.S. Army Military Police Corps. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Conflict Management and Resolution.

 

The Defense Alliance of North Carolina (DANC) Goverment Relations Purpose:

1. Assist the Executive Director and Senior Director in reviewing issues related to the Defense Alliance of North Carolina (DANC) and provide advice and recommendations to the DANC Executive Board and Management Council regarding same.
2. Monitor State and Federal legislative agendas to identify legislation that is relevant to the DANC membership; provide recommendations, if appropriate, to the DANC Executive board and Management Council on policy positions.
3. Develop strategies to educate DANC members on relevant government related issues
4. Develop strategies to educate and communicate with legislators, organizations and other relevant parties regarding the Defense Alliance of North Carolina (DANC) and our position on any particular legislative issue as directed by the DANC Executive Board and Management Council
5. Identify statewide and national associations with similar interests and provide recommendations and advice to the DANC Executive board and Management Council concerning opportunities to align organizations to strengthen advocacy on key issues.

DANC Government Relations Leaders:

David Hayden, DANC Government Relations Chair, Smith Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, L.L.P. https://www.smithlaw.com/professionals-David-Hayden

Joe Angell, DANC Government Relations Co-Chair, Wiley Wilson https://www.wileywilson.com/

 

Register Now!

 

The Defense Alliance of North Carolina (DANC) is mission focused on growing North Carolina's defense economy in a way that creates new long-term investment opportunities. 

Our vision is to improve the economy of North Carolina by leading high-impact strategic growth initiatives, provide information and networking opportunities to NC entities with defense sector interests, and positioning key organizations and senior leaders to assist in the expansion of defense-related business opportunities throughout the state.

https://defensealliancenc.org/